Fleas are the most common external parasite of household pets, with adult fleas comprising only 5% of the flea population. The rest of the flea population is in the immature form that can live and mature in your home environment. Fleas are dark brown flat-bodied wingless insects that are able to jump great distances. Fleas survive on blood meals from biting your pet, but will also bite humans too. Symptoms you may see if your pet has fleas:
– itching and scratching
– biting and chewing
– fleas or flea dirt on the skin
Fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day, which drop off the host and mature in the environment (including your home). Treatment of your pet is important for their comfort, but also because fleas can transmit other diseases. If eaten by your pet, fleas can infect your pet with tapeworms. Fleas are also the source of “cat scratch fever”, a disease passed to humans in cat scratch wounds.